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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/20/11/12/T2evA.St.138.jpeg|364Soldiers are greeted by Santa as they enter Charlotte Douglas International Airport Thursday morning. Charlotte-Douglas International Airport looked like a staging area for a major military push Thursday morning, December 20, 2012, as nearly 2,300 soldiers headed home for the holidays. The military members were from Fort Jackson, near Columbia, and they were given two-week leaves from basic training for they could head home for Christmas and New Years. It was billed as Operation Victory Block Leave, and the USO operation in Charlotte provided a variety of support for the soldiers. Davie Hinshaw - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/20/11/07/bIrfK.St.138.jpeg|472Soldier listen to instructions after arriving at the terminal Thursday morning at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Charlotte-Douglas International Airport looked like a staging area for a major military push Thursday morning, December 20, 2012, as nearly 2,300 soldiers headed home for the holidays. The military members were from Fort Jackson, near Columbia, and they were given two-week leaves from basic training for they could head home for Christmas and New Years. It was billed as Operation Victory Block Leave, and the USO operation in Charlotte provided a variety of support for the soldiers. Davie Hinshaw - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/20/11/13/oE93V.St.138.jpeg|426Soldiers are greeted by Santa and Jingles as they enter Charlotte Douglas International Airport Thursday morning. Charlotte-Douglas International Airport looked like a staging area for a major military push Thursday morning, December 20, 2012, as nearly 2,300 soldiers headed home for the holidays. The military members were from Fort Jackson, near Columbia, and they were given two-week leaves from basic training for they could head home for Christmas and New Years. It was billed as Operation Victory Block Leave, and the USO operation in Charlotte provided a variety of support for the soldiers. Davie Hinshaw - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/20/11/02/SGBKf.St.138.jpeg|525Elizabeth Stewart, a 29 year old soldier who is training to be a Combat Medic, proudly shows a photo of her 2 year old daughter, Juliet, one of three children who will greet her when she arrives home in Los Angeles. Charlotte-Douglas International Airport looked like a staging area for a major military push Thursday morning, December 20, 2012, as nearly 2,300 soldiers headed home for the holidays. The military members were from Fort Jackson, near Columbia, and they were given two-week leaves from basic training for they could head home for Christmas and New Years. It was billed as Operation Victory Block Leave, and the USO operation in Charlotte provided a variety of support for the soldiers. Davie Hinshaw - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/20/11/01/dxSzm.St.138.jpeg|368Troops enjoy space and food poovided by the USO as they wait for flights to take them home for the Holidays. Charlotte-Douglas International Airport looked like a staging area for a major military push Thursday morning, December 20, 2012, as nearly 2,300 soldiers headed home for the holidays. The military members were from Fort Jackson, near Columbia, and they were given two-week leaves from basic training for they could head home for Christmas and New Years. It was billed as Operation Victory Block Leave, and the USO operation in Charlotte provided a variety of support for the soldiers. Davie Hinshaw - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/20/11/12/1dVl4d.St.138.jpeg|407Pvt. Kyra Seymour, 19, enjoys the USO facility Thursday morning at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Seymour was on her way home to Baltimore, MD. Charlotte-Douglas International Airport looked like a staging area for a major military push Thursday morning, December 20, 2012, as nearly 2,300 soldiers headed home for the holidays. The military members were from Fort Jackson, near Columbia, and they were given two-week leaves from basic training for they could head home for Christmas and New Years. It was billed as Operation Victory Block Leave, and the USO operation in Charlotte provided a variety of support for the soldiers. Davie Hinshaw - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/20/11/12/SGBQ4.St.138.jpeg|414Soldier listen to instructions after arriving at the terminal Thursday morning at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Charlotte-Douglas International Airport looked like a staging area for a major military push Thursday morning, December 20, 2012, as nearly 2,300 soldiers headed home for the holidays. The military members were from Fort Jackson, near Columbia, and they were given two-week leaves from basic training for they could head home for Christmas and New Years. It was billed as Operation Victory Block Leave, and the USO operation in Charlotte provided a variety of support for the soldiers. Davie Hinshaw - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/20/11/11/dxSAQ.St.138.jpeg|333Soldiers head to the USO facility after arriving by bus Thursday morning at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Charlotte-Douglas International Airport looked like a staging area for a major military push Thursday morning, December 20, 2012, as nearly 2,300 soldiers headed home for the holidays. The military members were from Fort Jackson, near Columbia, and they were given two-week leaves from basic training for they could head home for Christmas and New Years. It was billed as Operation Victory Block Leave, and the USO operation in Charlotte provided a variety of support for the soldiers. Davie Hinshaw - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/20/11/08/1qe2AC.St.138.jpeg|475Pvt. Rolando Rivas enjoys the use of a computer and internet at the USO facility Thursday morning at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Rivas, based in Fort Jackson, was on his way home to New York. Charlotte-Douglas International Airport looked like a staging area for a major military push Thursday morning, December 20, 2012, as nearly 2,300 soldiers headed home for the holidays. The military members were from Fort Jackson, near Columbia, and they were given two-week leaves from basic training for they could head home for Christmas and New Years. It was billed as Operation Victory Block Leave, and the USO operation in Charlotte provided a variety of support for the soldiers. Davie Hinshaw - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/20/11/07/BU62N.St.138.jpeg|434A soldier check out a terminal map while waiting on a flight Thursday morning at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Charlotte-Douglas International Airport looked like a staging area for a major military push Thursday morning, December 20, 2012, as nearly 2,300 soldiers headed home for the holidays. The military members were from Fort Jackson, near Columbia, and they were given two-week leaves from basic training for they could head home for Christmas and New Years. It was billed as Operation Victory Block Leave, and the USO operation in Charlotte provided a variety of support for the soldiers. Davie Hinshaw - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/20/11/07/UzQmx.St.138.jpeg|364Soldiers enjoy the USO facility Thursday morning at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Charlotte-Douglas International Airport looked like a staging area for a major military push Thursday morning, December 20, 2012, as nearly 2,300 soldiers headed home for the holidays. The military members were from Fort Jackson, near Columbia, and they were given two-week leaves from basic training for they could head home for Christmas and New Years. It was billed as Operation Victory Block Leave, and the USO operation in Charlotte provided a variety of support for the soldiers. Davie Hinshaw - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/20/11/07/1plH81.St.138.jpeg|525Soldiers enjoy the USO facility Thursday morning at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Charlotte-Douglas International Airport looked like a staging area for a major military push Thursday morning, December 20, 2012, as nearly 2,300 soldiers headed home for the holidays. The military members were from Fort Jackson, near Columbia, and they were given two-week leaves from basic training for they could head home for Christmas and New Years. It was billed as Operation Victory Block Leave, and the USO operation in Charlotte provided a variety of support for the soldiers. Davie Hinshaw - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/20/11/06/EXm5f.St.138.jpeg|339The Soundbalance store was a popular spot for solders while waiting on their flights taking them home for the Holidays. Charlotte-Douglas International Airport looked like a staging area for a major military push Thursday morning, December 20, 2012, as nearly 2,300 soldiers headed home for the holidays. The military members were from Fort Jackson, near Columbia, and they were given two-week leaves from basic training for they could head home for Christmas and New Years. It was billed as Operation Victory Block Leave, and the USO operation in Charlotte provided a variety of support for the soldiers. Davie Hinshaw - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/20/11/16/1cNKRU.St.138.jpeg|525Pvt. Mark Echaure enjoys the USO facility Thursday morning at Charlotte Douglas International Airport as he waits on his flight to Manhattan, Kansas. Charlotte-Douglas International Airport looked like a staging area for a major military push Thursday morning, December 20, 2012, as nearly 2,300 soldiers headed home for the holidays. The military members were from Fort Jackson, near Columbia, and they were given two-week leaves from basic training for they could head home for Christmas and New Years. It was billed as Operation Victory Block Leave, and the USO operation in Charlotte provided a variety of support for the soldiers. Davie Hinshaw - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com
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